Practitioners advised on manufacturing standards

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged the National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP) to reconstruct its herbal hall to meet manufacturing practice standards.

Its Director-General, Dr Paul Orhii, said it was a prerequisite for the association to be allowed to produce herbal drugs at the site.

Orhii, who was represented by the principal regulatory officer, Mr Joseph Okereke, at a special inspection of the facility, built in 1982 by NANTMP pioneer chairman, Lagos State branch, the late Dr Joseph Lambo, said the factory must have a structural flow – from changing room to production room and packaging room.

The association, he said, can only produce powdery and solid herbal drugs at the facility as it is not equiped for liquid drugs or syrups.

“There is also space constraint and lack of hi-tech equipment. NANTMP may find it difficult to meet those conditions at the moment,” he said.

Besides, there is the need for water purification plant and stainless machine for mixing compounds to avoid residue, Orhii said .

The agency, he assured, will collaborate with the association to develop the sector but, “our job is to ensure that the centre conforms to the standards for having a manufacturing plant”.

NANTMP Chairman Dr Yekini Akande said the quest to have a common production site for herbal drugs could not be over-emphasised.

Akande said production of herbal drugs at the facility would help poor members to produce their drugs at a cheaper rate.

The herbal hall, Akande said, has been unused since the demise of its founder, adding that people with no affiliation to the association have been using it for other purposes.

He said the facility was being rehabilitated to meet NAFDAC standards for production sites, stressing that it would be ready for use.

“NAFDAC’s visit is an eye opener to help us focus on the areas to touch to make our dream of having a common production site a reality,” Akande said.

Akande urged the Federal Government to hasten the passage of traditional medicine bill so that the practice can progress to the desire height.

“We are appealing to the government to come to our aid so that we can develop traditional medicine to the level of China and India,” Akande said.